bex88, GBD and Callsign Kilo, thanks all for your insights and corrections.
I'm sure the Managed Path - F/O for instance, is always going to be competitive and applicants will be contending to fly airliners.
I apologise for the drivel but it's always going to be a question of motivation for some that would generate responses of why fly for BA to a greater extent than how or what to fly in general; otherwise some people would buy their own planes to fly.
Flying airliners in Botswana is a challenge in a different context but it wouldn't be that long to touch the roof; yes different challenges but less strenuous (less traffic, number of days off, weather/visibility... et la)